Vinyl pressings
by Frank Sinatra · 1968
Cycles was first pressed on vinyl in 1968. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
26 pressings came out in 1968, the album's first year, in 15 countries. Compare the label and catalog number on your copy, then the codes etched or stamped in the runout groove (the dead wax around the label): they are the surest sign of an early pressing.
30869 FS 1027A-1HSide A etched [variant 1]
30870 FS 1027B-1HSide B etched [variant 1]
30869 FS 1027 A-1CSide A etched [variant 2]
30870 FS1027b-1GSide B etched [variant 2]
o 30869 FS 1027A-1H PRunout side A - variant 1
o 30870 FS 1027B-1E PRunout side B - variant 1
o 30869 FS 1027A-1H P D10Runout side A - variant 2
P 30870 FS 1027B-1C o D1Runout side B - variant 2
30869-1 I A1Var 1, A runout stamped
30870-2S I A1Var 1, B runout stamped
30869_1 IVar 2, A runout stamped
30870_3S I /\2Var 2, B runout stamped
Ƨ \ 30869 FS 1027 A -1D o A6A deadwax Variant 1
Ƨ 30870 FS1027B -1G o A2B deadwax Variant 1
Ƨ \ 30869 FS 1027 A -1C o B7A deadwax Variant 2
Ƨ \ 30870 FS1027B -1D o A2B deadwax Variant 2
T 1 30869 FS 1027 A -1A C8Side A runout, variant 1
T 30870 FS 1027 B -1A A 10Side B runout, variant 1
T 1 30869 FS 1027 A -1A C2Side A runout, variant 2
T 30870 FS 1027 B -1A D3Side B runout, variant 2
Not sure how to read the runout? See matrix numbers, runout and dead wax and how to tell a first pressing.
By decade, oldest first. Open a pressing for its full label, barcode and runout details.
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1968 | Argentina | Music Hall FS 12.794First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1968 | Canada | Reprise Records FS 1027First yearLP, Stereo | LP, Stereo |
| 1968 | Canada | Reprise Records FS 1027First yearLP, Stereo | LP, Stereo |
| 1968 | Canada | Reprise Records FS 1027First yearLP, Stereo | LP, Stereo |
| 1968 | Canada | Reprise Records FS 1027First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | Canada | Reprise Records FS 1027First yearLP, Stereo | LP, Stereo |
| 1968 | Colombia | Reprise Records R-51026First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1968 | France | Reprise Records CRV 1027 (FS 1027)First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | Germany | Reprise Records FS 1027 / Reprise Records 1027First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | Greece | Reprise Records RS 0310First yearLP, Stereo | LP, Stereo |
| 1968 | New Zealand | Reprise Records RS 1027LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1968 | Peru | Reprise Records FS 1027First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1968 | South Africa | Reprise Records RFC 1027First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1968 | Spain | Reprise Records HRES 291-15First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | UK | Reprise Records FS 1027First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | UK | Reprise Records K 44013LP, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1971 | UK | Reprise Records K 44013LP, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1971 | UK | Reprise Records K 44013LP, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1976 | Brazil | Reprise Records 3-04-404-052LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Spain | Hispavox S 90.301LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | US | Reprise Records FS 1027 / Reprise Records 1027LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1981 | US | Reprise Records FS 1027 / Reprise Records 1027LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Australia | Reprise Records FS 1027LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | Canada | Reprise Records FS 1027LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Canada | Reprise Records FS 1027LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | Reprise Records 44013LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Germany | Reprise Records FS 1027 / Reprise Records 1027LP, Stereo | LP, Stereo |
| ? | Mexico | Gamma GX 01-316 / Reprise Records GX 01-316LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | UK | Reprise Records K 44013 / Reprise Records 1027LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | UK | Reprise Records K 44013LP, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | US | Reprise Records FS 1027LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | Reprise Records FS 1027 / Reprise Records 1027LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
53 vinyl pressings of Cycles are listed here, from 21 countries, released between 1968 and 1981.
The earliest pressings are from 1968, in US, UK, Japan, New Zealand and more. One of them is Reprise Records FS 1027, released November 12, 1968.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use FS 1027, RSLP 1027, SJET-8104, RS 1027) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, 30869 FS 1027A-1H and 30870 FS 1027B-1H. Later reissues often keep the catalog number but change the label design or the runout codes.
It depends on which pressing you have and on the condition of the record and its sleeve. Early pressings from the album's home country in near mint condition are usually worth the most; common later reissues are worth far less. Scan your copy with VinylLens to see its value for every grade.
